As a Christian Blogger and as a Blogger in general, we can easily get discouraged.
Your emotions get caught up as a writer. You pour your heart into the words you write so that you can make a connection with your readers and they can make a connection with you.
Blogging becomes an emotional journey no matter the reason the blog started. A connection with the ideas and creativity that becomes intimate to us. There is always a deeper meaning and truth behind all that you put on the keyboard for others to see. You preconceive visions of who the words may touch and you stay hopeful that the moment someone reads the full outline, they can feel the emotions that you were trying to relay.
This is all part of blogging and writing. You are putting your all into what most people may see as a hobby. But you see it as a ministry, a full time job, or as a therapeutic relationship between you and readers.
But sometimes, a spike of discouragement comes about. It’s not just one or two bloggers at a time feeling this, its many. Many will feel the hit of discouragement. It is known to come and go frequently within the blogging atmosphere.
Most of us think we are alone when feeling discouraged and do not want to share because everyone else looks like they are booming in their blog. Their Instagram shows their upcoming products, their Pinterest following skyrocketed, and their latest post mentioned their growth in their page views and subscriber lists.
This does not exempt them to the very least. They deal with the struggle to complete an editorial calendar too. They also have to sit till their hands cramp up to write. And they too take a few days out of the month to see where they can improve by brainstorming just like all the other bloggers that is building on their own.
Here are the top reasons most Bloggers become discouraged:
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Comparison- “Their blog looks better than mine”; “They write better”; “They have so many more followers than I do and I started blogging before them.”
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Too little time- “I am a stay at home mom, I do not get enough alone time to write.”
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Not enough page views, am I affecting anyone- “I only get X amount page views per month, my blog is barely reaching anyone, am I even helping anyone?”
After time and time again of feeling those statements I mentioned, you eventually feel like giving up.
But wait, how many of you said God called you to write? How many said He came to you and told you to write to encourage, to uplift, to teach?
Did He say there is a quota we are to meet or there is a ideal number to reach?
Has He told you our page views needed to be over 5,000, 50,000, or 500,000 to get His words out to the world?
Did He tell you if your subscriber list was less than a 1,000 to not even bother to speak to His people or that your calling is considered ineffective?
As a ‘Christian blogger’ there is no standard but to stay obedient to what God has called you to do.
Recently I heard something that made me think of us bloggers:
“David was anointed at 17 years old to become King but he did not reign as King till he was 30 years old.”
I have known this about King David but when I recently heard this I connected with it from a blogger standpoint.
As a 'Christian blogger' there is no standard but to stay obedient to what God has called you to do. #fulfillingthecall Share on XIn blogging we look at what seems to be considered success:
If we can make an income from blogging within a year, we have reached our calling.
When our blogs receive over 30k views a month then we have became known.
If we can reach 15k followers on Instagram then we are successful with our brand.
Why do we put a standard on our calling? Why is reaching a certain point within a certain time limit considered success when we are doing the will of God?
King David was called out from what seem to be a job for the “no ones” because he herded the sheep in an unseen place. Even from his own family he was not considered to ever become a man of success but yet a prophet was taken to him and he was anointed from where he was standing.
After David was anointed he still had many years of serving unto others and do what God had for him to do before he was to reign as a King. The people were not yet ready for him when he was first anointed and all that he was about to do but God knew his heart would be humble and stay in labor till it was time.
Another side of that is; are we ready? I may have been called to write two years ago but am I ready for all that God has for me? Will I do what is required?
It may take seven years to reach 100,000 views a month or to get 20k followers on Instagram but my calling to write did not come with a descriptive standard from God to know that people received the words I had written. All He said was “Just write!” The outcome of it all is now of His timing and His choice, not mine.
As I write and continue with it, He has put more into my heart. More goals to reach for and more of an emotional connection to write with. Some goals include for me to enlarge my platform but not for the satisfaction of myself; but so more people can be touched. Enlarging the platform is not to put a number on His people for my records.
His people are His, not mine to count.
Doesn’t that statement just make you want to cringe. Counting His people! He said only He is to count the stars and name them all (Psalm 147:4).
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
Psalm 19:17 NLT
I once heard someone say; “I use to want to be just like them, then the Lord told me, you would not be able to carry what they had to carry.”
We do not know all the struggles others have behind the work that is shown as completed or successful. I want to carry what God knows I am capable of carrying, to do what I am called to do. I can not stop doing what He called me to do because my journey doesn’t look as good as theirs.
If God called you to write, then don’t stop till He tells you to stop.
If you begin what He told you to begin than you can not stop Him or His plans.
Imagine looking at Him and saying, “Ok, God thanks for the opportunity but my journey doesn’t look like theirs. I’m just going to give it a rest now.”
Or worse…… what if Jesus said that carrying the cross?
What if David said, “You told me I was going to be King, it’s been 5 years, where’s my throne?”
What if Paul said, “I’m not going to prison, call another.”
We can not forget what drove each one to complete their calling: Passion.
Their passion to complete what God gave them to complete. Their passion to fulfill an unknown calling with an unknown ending.
Just as we are reminded in the book of James:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV
I desire to count this season pure joy as I persevere with you to continue the journey of our calling.
Keep preserving writers and know that the calling on our lives matter. More than we may think, many have read the words we have written because God is leading them to the unknown places to anoint the one person that no one even thought to be known.
Needed to read this today. Thank you & God bless you!
I just want to say thank you for writing this. God put it on my heart to start blogging about 2 years ago. I started and became discouraged that I quit a year ago. I’m giving it another go this year and find myself getting discouraged and overwhelmed with just the set up and planning. This was timely and I needed it for this season. Thank you!
“Why do we put a standard on our calling?”. I needed this, thank you for sharing!
Carmen,
God told me to “Just Write” in July 2018. By that time I had a blog name in mind and had bought the URL but was still playing with it all. You would have thought that loosing my job four weeks later, the path would have been made clear. Instead, I had a lot of personal junk to sort out. I become so discouraged and depressed. I found work again in May 2019, only to be in a similar situation and place right before Thanksgiving when I handed in my resignation there….with NO IDEA what was next. Slowly, my heart has been open to being obedient and writing and building a blog and ministry. I so needed this encouragement. I went through your list of 50+ blog posts that Encourage too today and have gleaned so much goodness from it. Thank you so much for being faithful to the call on your life and encouraging others like me!
Lesley
Love this because it is so evident how God works in us and through us! =) Praying you stay encouraged and fall in love with all that God has waiting for you!! (Even when it’s not what we envision) =)
Great post. You put many thoughts into perspective. Stop comparing, be patient, and keep doing what God has called us to do. Thank you for that reminder now it’s time to refocus!
This really encourages me a lot as a new Christian blogger. I really love writing. And God always reminds me that it doesn’t matter if no one reads at first as long as I’ll continue. It’s God’s hand to bless what we do as long as we do it for His glory.
Wow thank you for this!! I really needed this, it popped up on my pinterest feed for a reason. Thank you!!
I typed in “when a Christian blogger becomes discouraged” on my search bar and this came up. I started my blog a week ago today and am already discouraged, Well, I was until I read this. Thank you for your obedience and not giving up or else I wouldn’t have found this. My blog post yesterday was about His timing, yet I’m looking at those numbers and all that i don’t know about blogging and not even listening to the fact that He is speaking to me first! I feel much better as the Lord used you, a stranger, yet still a sister in Christ. God bless and thanks again!
Yes, us sisters in Christ are here to always encourage each other even when we do not know that we did or do. I truly hope you come by and visit my Facebook group, By His Grace Bloggers. It is a group specifically for women Christian bloggers. I promise you will find a group of women that will/can help, support, and encourage you!
Thank you! I’m waiting for my request to the group to be approved!
This was much needed for me too! I’m new at blogging – but was called to it – and it too me quite some time to get it out there. Now working on how He intends to use it further without counting! Thanks! Kristin
Called – Should always be our focus point. Being called to blog is my daily reminder to blogging. I am blessed that you stopped by and commented. Thank you!
One of the good read of today’s start, Keep sharing this kind of post.
Thanks
Thank you!
Read this today and it truly hit my heart, I’ve been so discouraged lately and wondering when God will answer my prayers and show me some sign that I’m on the right track to my calling. But I know that I definitely would like to start a blog just not sure what for and what can come out of it, I definitely always compare myself to others. I’ m just getting back into my faith and learning to trust God more but I’m still a work in progress. So glad I found this post, I don’t believe it was a coincidence. Thank you for your inspiring words!
Katina, I am so glad you found the post too and that you were able to receive encouragement for it. I am adding you to my prayer list for the Lord to lead you and for you to grow deeper into a relationship with Him. As we grow closer to Him, we gain a better understanding to His will. I pray you are able to do that! Many blessings to you!
Needed this today, too! Thanks for being a constant source of encouragement!
You are so sweet! I am so glad it encouraged you!!
Thank you! So very needed!
Carmen- I’ve been discouraged! Honestly, it’s hard to put so much time and effort in. Your post was uplifting and encouraging! Thank you so much!
I am so blessed that you were encouraged by the post! Blogging can be discouraging because of how time consuming it can be. But trust in the Lord and in what He has appointed for you to do! He will give you rest as you request it. Many prayers and blessings to my friend.
Carmen, I love this. I will be saving it for those many times that I feel discouraged so I can come back and read it again. Your Sister, Leigha
So glad you found this to be encouraging. Thank you so much for taking time to read it and to comment!!
My blog is called http://www.particularlycalled.com for this very reason! thanks for the encouragement!
Thanks Carmen! You have really encouraged me to stay true to my calling. You’re a blessing!
Thank you so much Julie!! =)
So good, Carmen!
I’m in the camp of feeling like I don’t have enough time as a sahm.
You’re words and advice are so encouraging!
Thank you, thank you Carmen. I have given this a quick read and am marking it to come back to tonight to read in more depth when I have more time to think. I’ve already found it incredibly encouraging. Thank you!!!!
Carmen, you wrote this for me. Just for me. 😉 Lol, it’s like you wrote out everything that was on my heart that I couldn’t quite put to words. You have blessed me so much just in the short time I’ve known you and I thank God for you! I hope you know God has used you in many other’s lives and we’re thankful that you are following His calling on your life! <3
Tiffany, you got me crying over here. So glad the Lord used these words that He gave me to write just for you to read! Love you sis! Keep blogging for His glory! =)
Awwwwww, now you got this hormonal, emotional, postpartum Mama crying too. 😉 Love you too! Thanks for all the encouragement you provide to so many! Praying for you still, Mama, and that precious little one you’re carrying! ❤
Such great encouragement here! I love that now that I have met you I can almost hear just how you would say this! Amen!
lol, I love that you can hear me saying it. Gives some encouragement that I wrote it out just as the Lord placed it in my heart.
Your post has spoken to me, a believer that doesn’t blog. It has refreshed my mind, heart and spirit to keep moving, keep having faith and to keep persevering. May the Lord continue to use you mightily , my sister, to minister to the hearts of bloggers and to all who come across your blog. May His word continue to bring life and prosperity to you, your household and all those you come in contact with. Love you 😘
Thank you so much Cynthia for your encouragement and prayer for me and my family! That truly ministers to my heart today!
I just wrote a post similar to this one. I was feeling really discouraged and God reminded me that if you can remain faithful with little, you can be faithful with much. Why would God want to give you 250,000 people to talk to if you can’t even be faithful with the 40 he’s given you? We do a lot of comparing with others, but you’re definitely right – God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He just expects us to make progress, however little that progress may seem to us. Thank you, so much for sharing!
Amen!! I completely agree!
Just saw this on another link up. I love the reference to King David. That actaully hit home for me! I have been slacking a little bit lately as home work has been ever so consuming… but I am still grateful for how God has reached me in just about a year. Praise God for his goodness and Im going to “just write”
Yours sis, Sue
Yes, all we can do is Just Write and allow God to lead us in blogging and in our homes. By doing that we will not feel like we are slacking but instead we will feel fulfilled in the calling He has given us. Many blessings to you!
Such an inspiring post! Thank you for this reminder. Is really easy to get discouraged and this message is needed.
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting! I am so glad you enjoyed it! Many blessings!
Such great encouragement here, Carmen. It can be a slippery slope when we start to look around instead of look up. I’m guilty of doing it, and God consistently had to remind me that He doesn’t measure success by the world’s standard. I’m learning to be grateful for my portion, nothing more, nothing less. Blessings to you and thank you for your heart to speak His truth!
Thank you Tiffany. His success is definitely not of the worlds success. His success is so much better!
Thanks Carmen,
We will never know WHO or HOW MANY people you have actually touched through our ministry..and that is just as well really, as it is God’s work in reality. HOWEVER,it has struck me that we need to make more of an effort from the other side of the screen to encourage people when they impact us or are used by God in our lives. Thank you for being God’s encourager today!
Amen! That is so true! We should definitely encourage the ones that impact us by the leading of God. Thank you for commenting and visiting!
As Christian bloggers and writers we never must loose the focus and our priority. It could happen, but we must guard our hearts also in the blogging world. Great post and encouragement for us as we continue the journey to fulfillment of God’s purpose through blogging.
Thank you Tayrina!! So blessed by your words and encouragement!
This was just what I needed to hear! I have focused on taking care of my toddler over growing my blog recently. I know that is what I need to be doing to fulfill the Lord’s calling, but sometimes I am disappointed at my slow blogging progress.
Yes, definitely keep being a mamma first! Blogging is done by the Lords time and as He directs; so no worries over the growth. Continue to grow in Him and be used by Him! You are touching more than you know!
Um how timely! Thanks for the encouragement as I’ve been praying for direction on my own blog! Great thoughts!
Awesome! So glad it brought encouragement to you today!
Simply beautiful Carmen! Thanks for the reminder that God orchestrates the details of our ministries. Counting stars is far more fun than counting numbers. Love and blessings. Hugs!
Yes, so true! Counting stars is more FUN than counting numbers! =)
You dropped some serious truth bombs here Carmen! Thank you!
lol, Thank you Nicci!!
Great reminders of why we are here and why we do what we do….we have a passion and calling from God.
Thank you Marsha for visiting and commenting!
WOW! That you so much for outlining the “why” we are doing what we are doing. So grateful that all He gives us is on His timing not ours. He is not counting our followers or subscribers. I needed this. We can get so caught up in all of that.. Thank you so much.
Making Joy Contagious, Desiree
So glad that this post helpful to you! I am so blessed for His timing too!
“Will I do what is required?” This right here has struck a cord with my heart. I cannot even begin to express how much this blog post has resonated with my Spirit for such a time as this. Not just as a Christian blogger, but as a Pastor as well. My husband and I co-Pastor our church and co-blog, and we find ourselves discouraged more than we should be and this post has brought so much peace to my heart. God has given us a calling and the results really don’t matter in the kingdom rather being obedient to what God has called us to do and doing what is required. (Period, literally!) Thank you so much for such a heart-felt post.
Timberley, Thank you so much for your comment. It has truly touched me. It brings so much joy to my heart that the words written has encouraged you!!
Thank you very much for this! I consider myself a failed blogger, but you opened my eyes.
There is no such thing as a failed blogger when following His lead! =) Happy this helped!
This is an incredible post and I believe it will speak to many hearts. I know that it has spoke to mine!
Awww…. thank you sis!